A Day to Post More Pictures

A Watercolor I did 4/12/01, copied from a watercolor instructional book.

A Day to Post More Pictures

Zoey! Picture taken today.

Blues

Just a thought....wouldn't it be great to be in a Blues band. I mean a REAL Blues Band that plays the good stuff that was written mostly prior to the 1970's......mostly obscure stuff....

Homecoming

A picture of my son about to attend his first formal dance ever: The 2012 Homecoming Dance

"Somewhere"

Ok so I recorded "Somewhere" finally today. Here is how it sounded (may need to copy and paste this link to your browser):

https://www.box.com/shared/2jhvf1uhcdekwc31c3h9

Next song may be a Christmas one.

Martin and PRS

Hodge Podge Friday

Tried recording "Somewhere" again with no success... Pretty good band rehearsal tonight; actually played some Christmas songs. Speaking of Christmas.....hey Santa, can I please have a Fender Blues Jr. amplifier, an Epiphone electric guitar, and the following effects pedals connected on a pedal board: Boss Blues Driver, Boss Digital Delay, and some kind of vibrato pedal, please????? My PRS is cool, but I think I'd like a guitar with a bigger body since the PRS keeps slipping down when I play seated. Put my PRS for sale, but no interest out there...

Attempt Part II

Just tried again to record "Somewhere." Unsuccessful. I obviously need to go over the same mistakes I keep making. Frustrated, but not as much as I might have thought I'd be. I'm going to get good at this piano song playing stuff.

Attempt

Attempted to record me playing "Somewhere" today. Nope.

Getting There with the Sudnow Method

"Somewhere" is getting there. Amazing how the hands just do what they're supposed to do as if by magic (sometimes).

Sunset

This is a picture of the sunset taken on the evening of my daughter's performance as Mrs. Potts in "Beauty and the Beast." I took this picture from my phone in a moving vehicle as my wife drove.

Back at the Piano

Back on the keys today working on my two songs...

Just a Little Lull

Really didn't feel it at the piano today. Maybe just burned myself at the piano yesterday.

Had a good practice with the band though. Feeling like getting into the guitar.

Just a little lull .... goes along with the Eagles loss today.

Practice, practice, practice

That's what it's all about if you want to do this music stuff. And I sure practiced that piano today. Still working on "Somewhere;" listened to the West Side Story version today on YouTube and it was inspiring. The comments that people wrote were also inspiring in talking about the beauty of the song.

Music Day

Have guitar lesson, played my PRS to some of the Doors' LA Woman CD, practiced piano, and will be seeing my daughter's final performance tonight in "Beauty and the Beast." She sings a beautiful version of the theme song.

Mrs. Potts

Daughter #1 was awesome last night in her performance as Mrs. Potts in "Beauty and the Beast." Unlike her dad, she has a beautiful singing voice! This was the first time that she had a big role in a production. Very very proud of her!!

Daughter 1 and Daughter 3 (Zoey)

Grandpop and Son

Wife!

Grandmom and Daughter 2

Lennon (Two "Versions")

Piano and Guitar

May be trying to get an Epiphone Casio or similar Epiphone in exchange for my PRS. May be doing more piano this weekend; band practice this Sunday. Played piano this morning. Musical with my daughter playing Mrs Potts is tonight and tomorrow!

Mrs Potts!

Daughter #2 to play the part of Mrs.Potts in "Beauty and the Beast!"

My Son's Father

My son.

BEST ALBUM EVER BY THE BEST BAND EVER WITH THE BEST SONGWRITERS EVER PACKAGED IN THE BEST ALBUM COVER EVER

EAGLES!

Great win today for the Eagles over the Ravens. Couldn't watch it due to being at a baseball game, but checked in on the Eagles periodically. Not sure why people aren't thinking we should go for Vick; throw some interceptions, and you are getting thrown out of town! Give him a break! Yea, I know about his problems with cruelty to animals. At first I was against him, but my thinking at this point is let's play football. And he sure is good at what he does. When he played for Virginia Tech, he played against my alma mater Florida State University for the championship, and lost to my team.

Musically, I'm taking it nice and slow with "Somewhere." I'm at the point in the song where the melody changes somewhat, and I'm just taking my time with that as well as taking my time going over "These Foolish Things."

Still thinking about marketing original songs....

Cool Saturday

Got new strings for the Martin. Sounds nice indoors, but outdoors just doesn't have the projection I'd like. Got it light FX strings...might try mediums next.

Continue to work on "Somewhere" Added a few measures, but will need continued practicing. Also added some clean up time to "These Foolish Things."

New Dylan CD released recently: Tempest. Didn't get it yet.

Band

Good band practice tonight. When I sing lead, the harmony that two other band members provide is great.

Fear and Doubt vs Reality

Interesting how I worked on my two piano songs today and the thought process that may have been going on recently.
As I ended working on song one "These Foolish Things," and continue to work on song two "Somewhere," the thought goes on something like: uh oh. My interest is going to fade because I'm going to forget song one, learn song two, etc. Its almost like I abandon my other child (song 1) in favor of the new baby (song 2). Hat tip to Billy Joel for the analogy of new songs = new born babies. Other thought creep in too, like: the old problems will resurface...I'm going to confuse parts of songs....
But I'm noticing a funny thing. Reality. I can still play song one ok while working on song 2. A couple of possible contributors:
A) I took my time learning song
One until it was learnt to
Play at a DECENT speed.
B) No rush to learn!

September 11, 2012

Had some time today and continued work on "Somewhere." Also did a little "These Foolish Things."

Somewhere begins

Worked on the first four measures of the song "Somewhere." Starting to get worried already that I'll forget "These Foolish Things!"

Choice Made

Made a choice for song number 2: "Somewhere," that beautiful song from West Side Story. I did it in the past, but now I really want to nail it. The Philadelphia Eagles won today, but they didn't look too good...

Picture Day (Part 4)

Here's a picture of my dad fooling around with my brother's guitar. My dad is "a cool rockin' daddy in the USA" to quote Mr. Bruce Springsteen!

Picture Day (Part 3)

Directly across from the piano. If you look closely, you'll see a picture of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band from about 1980, a picture of the one and only Louis Armstrong, and a picture of Frank "Tram" Trumbauer (he used to play sax with Bix Beiderbecke.

Picture Day (Part 2)

Here's my piano workstation (it's a discontinued Yamaha YDP-113).

Picture Day!

Here are some pictures of my current music machines: my Martin D16RGT, and my Korean made PRS.

"Born to Run" album cover 2012 ?

Just me and our sax/bass/keyboard player.

"These Foolish Things"

Broke my rule and decided to post my play. Here's "These Foolish Things," and you may need to copy and paste the link below:https://www.box.com/shared/5pf9n695sg76yudtz9dgNow on to song two....

September 6, 2012

Still working on "These Foolish Things." Interesting how carelessness sneaks in; spent some time tonight trying to get things right. Difficult to practice at night when tired and concentration diminishes.

September 5, 2012

Still working on "All the Things You Are." Its coming along OK. Keep on getting tempted to get into Gypsy Jazz on guitar... Edit on 9/10/12: I think I meant to say, "These Foolish Things" instead of "All the Things You Are!"

September 4, 2012

Continue to work on "These Foolish Things."

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, etc.

A great musical weekend. Started Friday playing for my coworker's wedding. Then last night saw Bruce Springsteen in concert in Philadelphia. What a fantastic show, indeed. Thanks, Bruce! My seat was way in the back in the 400 level up top, but no matter. Sound was great and I can see ok. What a great rock and roller. The best rock and roller out there, in my opinion, up there with the Rolling Stones. Won't spoil it for any readers who may see the show, but it rocked, and was also thoughtful. A highlight for me was when he played "Mona" and then went right into "She's the One." I've heard him do this in the past on a recording, but never really though I'd get to see him do it live. His rapport with the audience and showmanship, not to mention his musicianship, band, and songwriting, is phenomenal. On the way to and from Philly I listened to the David Sudnow course again, and continued work on "These Foolish Things."

Blue Moon . . .

After much hard work, me, the mandolin player, and our lead singer played for a wedding service last night. Really went well. Song list from us included:1) Blue Moon {with vocals} - (there was indeed a blue moon last night)2) The Wedding Song3) You're My Home4) We Are Many Parts5) When You Say Nothing at All (featuring the bride's daughter on lead vocal)6) Blue Moon(instrumental)Was really quite beautiful. The pastor really helped by providing us with microphones and sound system. Glad to report that our music probably helped make the day even more memorable for the bride and groom.Continued my work today on piano with "These Foolish Things."